Shaver with removable head

ABSTRACT

An electric shaver particularly adaptable for use as a lady&#39;&#39;s shaver, having a detachable pop-out shaving head which is snugly positioned between fixed end walls. The detachable shaving head includes an integral base having a slot into which an outer cutter is releasably secured. The entire head assembly is pivotally released from between the end walls by a user operated head ejector which causes the head to pivot about axes perpendicular to said end walls. In a preferred embodiment, the shaving head includes rows of brushes extending along both sides of the cutter. Also, in a preferred embodiment, the head portion of the shaver includes a special lighting assembly adjacent the shaving head for illuminating the skin adjacent the shaver.

United States Patent [191 Brenneman et al.

[11] 3,811,188 [451 May 21, 1974 SHAVER WITH REMOVABLE HEAD [73]Assignee: Schick Incorporated, Lancaster, Pa.

[22] Filed: Oct. 10, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 295,893

Primary Examiner-Al Lawrence Smith Assistant Examiner-Gary L. Smith 5 7]ABSTRACT An electric shaver particularly adaptable for use as a ladysshaver, having a detachable pop-out shaving head which is snuglypositioned between fixed end walls. The detachable shaving head includesan integral base having a slot into which an outer cutter is releasablysecured. The entire head assembly is pivotally released from between theend walls by a user oper ated head ejector which causes the head topivot about axes perpendicular to said end walls. In a preferredembodiment, the shaving head includes rows of brushes extending alongboth sides of the cutter. Also, in a preferred embodiment, the headportion of the shaver includes a special lighting assembly adjacent theshaving head for illuminating the skin adjacent the shaver.

18 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures minimum: m4 3Q8l1188 sum 2 or z 1 SHAVERWITH REMOVABLE HEAD This invention relates to the field of electric dryshavers, and, particularly, to shavers having a detachable shaving head.

It is highly desirable to provide means for detaching the shaving headof an electric shaver for the purpose of brushing hair clippings out ofthe cutter assembly. Hair clippings are normally deposited within theshaving head, and would accumulate unless so removed. It would be highlydesirable to provide a detachable head which is especially suitable fora ladys shaver, and which can be readily manipulated by someone withlittle mechanical skill, and with a minimum of likelihood that theshaver or the shaving head assembly would be damaged in the process, orthat it would be reassembled improperly.

It is more likely that cleaning the cutter assembly will become part ofthe users routine, if the manipulation steps involved are simple, almostinstantaneously accomplished, and virtually error-proof. Hence, it isdesirable to provide a shaver having these features.

Shaving heads in electric shavers are operatively connected to anelectric motor, typically through a vigorously oscillating driving arm.Consequently, even though it is desirable that the head be easily andconveniently detached and easily re-attached to the shaver, it isimperative that the head be attached so as to withstand the vigorousmechanical action and vibration, as well as to withstand the dislodgingforces which are encountered in normal use.

Furthermore, the manufacture and sale of electric shavers is a highlycompetitive business, and it is imperative that such shavers, includingthe shaving head retention and release features, be simple andeconomical to manufacture.

In addition, an electric shaver which is intended for use as a ladysshaver must be readily and safely adaptable for shaving angular surfacesand recessed regions, such as, for example, shaving legs, armpits, andthe like, as well as lend itself to good styling features.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric shaverhaving a pop-out shaving head which can be simply and almostinstantaneously removed from the shaver by the user, and which can bereplaced as easily.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shaver inwhich the shaving head can be conveniently and simply removed from theshaver by a person with little mechanical skill for the purpose ofcleaning, and in which the shaving head assembly can be reassembled bythe user and re-attached to the shaver with virtually no likelihood oferrors in re-assembly or re-attachment.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shaver inwhich the cutter assembly can be removed from the shaving head andreplaced from time to time by a person with a low leval of manual skilland with no special tools.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shaverwhich can be manufactured in a relatively simple manufacturing andassembly operation, and, which, because of the simplicity of thestructures and the assembly sequence involved, can be manufacturedeconomically.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shaver whichreadily lends itself to a good styling feature, whereby the shaver,although utilizing a detachable' head, presents a well-contoured,free-flowing unitary appearance.

1 These and other objects which will be apparant hereinafter are allachieved in accordance with the present of being removed from the shavershown in FIGS. 1 and i FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view takenapproximately along the line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the shaver shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken approximately along the line 66of FIG. 2 taken through the shaving head and a portion of the drivingarm.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, an electric ladys shaver isgenerally indicated by the numeral l0, and includes a body or housinggenerally indicated by the numeral 12 comprising a handle portion l4 andhead portion 16. Head portion 16 houses and supports the shaving headassembly generally indicated by the numeral 18 and the lighting assemblygenerally indicated by the numeral 20.

ShaverlO includes an electric motor 22, transmission means 24 includingan eccentric 25 for converting the rotary drive of motor 22 to theoscillating drive of driving arm 26 which operates shaving head 18.Conventional electrical cord plug-in means (not shown becauseconventional) are provided at the base 28 of handle l4 and an omoffswitch 30 controls the operation of the shaver 10.

Shaving head assembly 18 is mounted within upwardly facing recess 32.The recess 32 is defined by up- I wardly projecting side wall 34, acentral wall 36 which is'parallel to side wall 34, and end walls 38, 40.Central wall 36 divides recess 32 fromlighting assembly 20. Housing 12isformed by a pair of cup-shaped members 42, 44 which are formed withopposing halves of side walls 34, 36 which abut in a common plane toform side walls 34, 36. Generally speaking, members 42, 44 are mirrorimages, and it is apparent that switch 30 and motor 22 reside withinhollow handle portion 14 formed by butting housing members 42, 44.

End walls 38, 40 are integral'extensions of members 42, 44 respectively.The bottom of recess 32 is defined by a wall 48 which is made ofportions of housing members 42, 44 which extend inwardly in a commonplane.

Central opening 50 extends through bottom wall 48 and motor drive arm 26extends therethrough, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. A heavy C clip 52having a flat bridging portion 54 extending between members 42, 44 helpsto maintain these members 42, 44 in proper butting position, andincludes end hooking fingers 56, 58 extending downwardly into recesses60, 62 in housing portions 42, 44, respectively, to engage and securethese portions.

Shaving head 18 is retained in recess 32 by a resilient detent,generally 66. Detent 66 includes a flat base portion 68 which extendsacross housing members 42, 44 and includes end tab portions 70, 72 whichreside in respective recesses 74, 76 in housing members 42, 44, re-

l spectively. It is noted that at least some gap exists between end 70,72 and the adjacent walls of recesses 74, 76, respectively. (See FIGS. 4and 5).

It is also noted that, due to the usual manufacturing tolerances, somegap also exists between the sides of ends 70, 72 and opposing portionsof housing 42, 44 with the result that some play or movement of detent66, both laterally and longitudinally along the elongated dimensions ispossible. Moreover, some slight angular rotation with respect to a planepassing perpendicularly through the center of base 68, for example, isalso possible.

Detent 66 also provides a central opening 78 through which drive arm 26passes and in which drive arm 26 oscillates. Detent 66 also includes twopair 80, 82 of opposing resilient members of latching detents 8484. Itis noted that detent 66 is elongated, and that resilient members 84-84are located near the respective ends 70, 72 of detent 66. As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, detent 66 consists of spring stock which has been formedto include the laterally extending projections 84-84 which initiallysmoothly curve upwardly and reverse direction towards the direction ofbody portion 68, and then, smoothly curve upwardly again and'reversedirection again to the direction generally away from body portion 68. Itis the latter curved latching portions FIG. 2 shows that latch portions86 not only assist in the proper aligning of head 18 along its longdimension, but, moreover, assists in drawing head 18 inwardly withrespect to recess 32 to bring the sides 90, 92 which are smoothlycurving, to rest against respective opposing and confining sides 94, 96which constitute part of walls 34, 36. Moreover, in accordance with animportant aspect of the present invention, head 18 is dimensioned sothat ends 98, 100 thereof, fit snugly between end walls 38, 40. (SeeFIG. 4). Partly as a result of these structural relationships, cutterhead 18 is very securely retained in recess 32 with substantially nomotion during operation.

A shaving head ejector is generally indicated by the numeral 104 andincludes an external finger gripping portion 106 and a pair of laterallyextending lugs 108-108 which are retained in recess 109-109 in housingmembers '42, 44. Recesses 109, 109 are elongated and ejector 104 canmove in the direction along the long dimension of the shaver handle tothe extreme positions illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The shaving head assembly which is generally indicated by the numeral 18comprises an integral molded plastic base 110, an outer cutter 112 whichis received in a slot 114 in base 110, an inner cutter assembly 116,hair-raising brushes 1 18- 118 disposed at both sides of outer cutter112, and facing elements 120-120.

Brushes 118-118 are made of tufts 119 bonded into base 110, andmid-portion 121 of facing plate resembles a plurality of fingers whichare spacedapart from block 110, extending laterally to help maintaintufts 119 in desired perpendicular relationship with respect to base110.

From a consideration of the drawings, it will be appreciated that cutterassembly 18 is bilaterally symmetrical with respect to a middlecross-sectional plane extending transversely across the narrowdimension, and also is bilaterally symmetrical with respect to a middlecross-sectional plane extending through the long dimension of cutterassembly 18.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 6, outer cutter assembly 112 includes aplurality of rows 122 of cutters, and inwardly directed side portions124 which are bonded at the rearward extreme to the outside of an innerU shaped bridging element 126. Outer cutter 112 is shaped from flatstock with elongated U-shaped recessed 113 extending between rows 122 ofcutters. It is apparant from a consideration of FIG. 6 that bridgingelement 126 extends the entire length of outer cutter 112, and that thebottom portion 128 of bridging portion 126 includes a central opening128 through which driving arm 26 passes, as 'well as a plurality ofother openings which provide bridging bands 131 around which retainingbosses 134, 136 at the bottom of recess 114 in base 110 are snuglyreceived, to fix outer cutter 112 with respect to base 110. The bottomportion 128 of outer cutter 112 presses against the bottom 138 of slot 114 and the sidewalls of slot 114 snugly rearwardly extending portions ofsidewalls 124 to provide excellent stability characteristics. Innercutter assembly 116 comprises a movable cutter 140 and a spring drivearm coupling element 142. The outer configuration of inner cutter 140 isadapted to mate with the inner configuration of outter cutter 112.

Inner cutter 146 includes a plurality of rows 143 of I cutter blades andis shaped to include recessed regions 144 therebelow. Recessed regions144 of inner cutters receive recessed regions 123 to maintain alignmentbetween respective rows 122 and 143 of inner and outer cutters. f

It is noted that when viewed from the underside of cutter 140 thecentral row 146 of inner cutter 140 appears as a recess and it isapparant from a consideration of FIGS. 2 and 6 that drive arm 26 extendsinto the region defined by the central row 1460f the inner cutter 140.End 148 of drive arm 26 is received in a U- shaped detent 149 in spring142. Spring 142 also includes lateral arm portions 150, 152 havingbridging detents 154 at each end which include clips 156 which passthrough openings 158 in inner cutter 140. Inner cutter assembly 116 canmove easily within cutter l 12. Tensioning of spring 142 by insertion ofend 148 into detent 149 uniformly urges cutting faces of cutter 140against opposing operating surfaces on cutter 112.

The underside of the plastic block or base 110 includes two pairs ofopposing recesses 160, 162 defined by undercut latching surfaces 164-164which engage the latching portions 86-86 of detent 66.

The underside of block 110 also includes a plurality of openings 168-168through which a small pushing tool (not shown) can be brought to bearagainst the bottom 128 of bridge element 126 of outer cutter 1 12. Thismakes it possible to replace a set of outer cutters 112 and innercutters 116 without necessitating the purchase of a new base element 1l0, and structures associated therewith. Hence, to remove cutter 112from head 18, head 18 is first removed as for cleaning and cutter 112 issnapped out of slot 114, for example, by pressing the point of a pencilthrough openings 168-168 against bottom 128.

FIG. 3 shows the cutter head 18 in a moved position,

that is, in that position which is obtained during the ejection of headassembly 18 from recess 32 as for cleaning. As indicated above, theejection mechanism, generally 104, can move to several positions in adirection corresponding to the lengthwise direction of handle portion14. During ejection, surface 94 of ejector 104 bears under rounded side90 of head 110 and urges shaving head 110 to pivot. Because of themating configuration between the latching portions 164 of head base 110and springlatching portions 86 of detent 66, and because of the closeproximity of lateral surface 90 of head 110, and opposing surface 96 ofrecess 32, shaving head 18 pivots as indicated in F IG. 3. The pivotaxis is substantially parallel to the direction of the elongateddimensions of head 18, that is, perpendicular to ends 38, 40. Shavinghead 18 can be completely removed from recess 32 to permit cleaning orreplacement.

It will also be appreciated that shaving head 18 is bilaterallysymmetrical with respect to both transverse and longitudinalmid-sectional planes, and, consequently, there is no right or wrong wayin which to orient, end for end, the shaving head 18 after cleaning.

Immediately upon release of shaving head 18 out of recess 32, it will beappreciated that drive arm 26 is disengaged from detent 149 of spring142 and, because of the resiliency of spring 142, arm portions 150, 152immediately flex downwardly. lnner cutter 116 can slide freely along thelength of outer cutter 112, but spring 142 and larger bosses 134 in base110 cooperate so that bosses 134 serve as detents to keep inner cutter116 from inadvertently separating from outer cutter 112 and falling tothe floor, for example. When inner cutter 116 is in the position inwhich spring 142 encounters larger bosses 136, portions of spring 142are available for manual depressing whereby cutter 116 can be removedfrom outer cutter 112 by sliding it out axially. Alternatively, cutter140 can be grasped by the fingers and simply pulled free, the spring 142giving way due to the neutral flexibility and resilience.

Removal of inner cutter 1 16 greatly facilitates cleaning of both innercutter 116 and outer cutter 112, and a brush can be passed through theinterior of outer cutter 112, for example. inner cutter l 12 is replacedin operating relationship with outer cutter 112 by reversing the stepsdescribed immediately above, and, again, it is noted that because of thebilateral symmetry of the shaving head assembly generally, andparticularly because of the bilateral symmetry of the outer cutter 116and inner cutter 112 along the longitudinal midsectional plane, theinnercutter 116 can be inserted starting at either end thereof into eitherend of outer cutter 112, and there is no right or wrong end-for-endinsertion on re-assembly.

To replace the shaving head assembly 18 in recess 32, either side 90, 92of head assembly 18 can be placed approximately against either surface94 or 96 of recess 32 in housing 12 to bring the resilient latchportions 86-86 of detent 66 into mating latching engagement with detents164--164 at the underside of base 1 10 of cutter head 18. Because of therounded character of sides 94, 96, and opposing surfaces on head 18,inward or downward pressure on head 18 automatically causes a shiftingabout the long dimension until head 18 is secured by detent 66 in properorientation.

Another aspect of the present invention involves the relationshipbetween the lighting assembly generally indicated by the numeral 176 andthe head portion 16. Lighting assembly 176 includes a lamp 178, areceptacle 180, diffusion lens 182 and associated electrical supplycomponents generally indicated by the numeral 184. Emminentlysatisfactory lighting circuits and associated lighting circuitstructures are disclosed in copending patent application Ser. No.276,517 filed July 13, 1972 by Edward J. Brennaman et al. (AttorneyDocket Case 720607) which application is assigned to a common assigneewith this application.

In the illustrated embodiment, it is noted that head 18 is received in alow profile configuration, that is, with cutters 112 being no higherthan, and, in fact, slightly recessed below, associated end walls 38, 40of end portion 16 of housing 12.

Cutter head 18 is positioned on an inclined portion adjacent diffuserlens 182, with lens 182 being positioned to illuminate the users skinimmediately adjacent the upper portion 186 of head portion 16. It isalso noted that when shaver 10 is being operated in such a way thatshaving head 18 is substantial 16 parallel with respect to the skin ofthe user, the portion 186 of head portion 16 of housing 12 will beelevated so that lens 182 is at an angle with respect to the skin,thereby permitting an increased illumination of the surfaces immediatelyahead of the razor.

lt will be appreciated from a consideration of the foregoing disclosurethat the shaver of the present invention provides a head configurationwhich is readily used for shaving curves, angles, recessed areas, andthe like, and is adaptable and highly satisfactory for use in connectionwith shaving legs, underarms, and the like. It is also extremelyconvenient to remove shaving head 18 for cleaning or replacement and toremove cutter 112 from base for replacement. The invention isparticularly suited for use in connection with a ladys shaver in thatthere is no need to exactly re-assemble head 18 in shaver 10, or innercutter 112, or outer cutter 116 in base 110, in any particularend-for-end orientation. Moreover, new cutters can be installed in head18 conveniently and easily without any tools. For example, cutters 112can be separated from block 110 by pressing the point of a pencilthrough opening 168 and a replacement cutter 112 is aligned in slot 114and is snapped to secure attachment.

Moreover, the cutter assembly 18 is readily rolled free of detent 66.

Moreover, the fact that cutter 112 is secured to a snap-out base 110provides an additional advantage referred to hereinbefore. Because ofthe novel roll-out action imparted by the shaving head ejector 104described hereinbefore, the shaving head 18 is disengaged from detent 66in a motion which corresponds approximately to a roll or pivot around anaxis which is parallel to the long dimension of head 18. This is asubstantial improvement over ejection systems which impart a roll orpivot around an axis which is parallel to a transverse or narrowerdimension of a cutter head. As a consequence of this combination ofstructural elements, end walls 30, 40 can be and are spaced-apart tovery snugly "cutter 112 be the same length as base 110 because thisrelationship better assures that end walls 38-40 provide immovablepositioning support for cutter 112 during operation.

We claim:

1. A removable shaving head for use in an electric shaver having arecess for receiving said head, said recess being defined by a pair offixed opposing end walls, and further having a drive arm, and means foroscillating said drive arm along a line extending between and normal tosaid pair of opposing end walls, said shaving head comprising:

a base having a first dimension and a second dimension, and an innerface and an outer face, said base being dimensioned to extend acrosssubstantially said entire recess, and having a first dimension such thatsaid shaving head is snugly received between said end walls, and saidouter face having a walled slot parallel with the direction of saidfirst dimension;

an elongated outer cutter;

an elongated inner cutter adapted to be cooperatively received withinsaid outer cutter;

means for biasing said inner cutter into shearing engagement with saidouter cutter;

means in said base for snugly and releasably securing said outer cutterin said walled slot;

coupling means for coupling said inner cutter to said drive arm wherebysaid inner cutter is reciprocatively driven along the direction of saidfirst dimension;

head retaining means comprising a pair of opposed resilient fingersmounted in said recess so as to exert opposing forces in a directionparallel to the direction of said second dimension, and a pair ofrecesses in said base member adapted to receive said resilient fingersin locking engagement.

2. A shaving head as defined in claim 1 wherein said outer cutter andsaid base have equal first dimensions,

and wherein the ends of said outer cutter are also snugly receivedbetween said end walls.

3. A shaving head as defined in claim 1 wherein said outer cutter has arearwardly facing member received in said walled slot, said rearwardlyfacing member having a plurality of openings, and wherein said base hasmeans comprising a plurality of opposing bosses at the bottom of saidslot for operatively engaging said openings to secure said outer cutterto said base.

4. A shaving head as defined in claim 3 in which said base has anopening passing through the bottom of said slot, said opening beingadapted to provide access to the face of said rearwardly facing memberfor pushing said outer cutter out of said slot.

5. A shaving head as defined in claim 1 wherein said coupling meanscomprise an elongatedgenerally downwardly arched spring, the ends ofsaid spring being secured to said inner cutter at the rear thereof, andwherein said spring includes a downwardly-opening U-shaped bend adaptedto operatively engage said I drive arm, and wherein engagement of saidresilient fingers by said recesses urges said shaving head downwardlyover said drive arm against the bias of said spring, thereby biasingsaid inner cutter against said outer cutter.

6. A shaving head as defined in claim 1 wherein said shaving headfurther includes a row of hair-raising brushes mounted in said base inrows extending along said first dimension, and at both sides of saidouter cutter.

7. A shaving head as defined in claim 1 wherein said shaving head isbilaterally symmetrical with with respect to a mid-sectional planeextending in the direction of said first dimension, and is alsobilaterally symmetrical with respect to a mid-sectional plane extendingin the direction of said second dimension.

8. In combination in an electric shaver:

a housing including a recess at one end thereof for receiving a shavinghead therein, said recess being defined, in part, along two opposingedges thereof by fixed end walls integral with said housing;

t means including a drive arm extending upwardly into said recess;

means for oscillating said drive arm in a first direction along a linebetween, and normal to, said pair of fixed end walls;

a shaving head comprising an outer cutter, and an inner cutter adaptedto be cooperatively received within said outer cutter, and includingmeans for coupling said inner cutter with said drive arm;

said shaving head also including an integral molded base having a firstdimension and a second dimension, said first dimension being in saidfirst direction, said second dimension being transverse thereto, saidfirst dimension being such that said base is snugly received betweensaid end walls, said base having a walled slot in the outer facethereof, said slot running in said first direction, and means in saidbase for releasably securing said outer cutter in said slot, said basealso having a pair of recessed detent means in the underside thereof;

means comprising a pair of opposed resilient fingers mounted in saidrecess and adapted to be releasably received by said recessed detentmeans, and to exert opposing forces along a direction parallel to thedirection of said second dimension to grip at least a portion of saidhead therebetween; and

head ejector means comprising a user-operated traveller movably mountedin said housing and adapted to enter said recess and push against theunderside of said shaving head at an edge thereof extending in saidfirst direction and to pivot said shaving head outwardly around axesparallel to the said first direction and thereby pivotally release saidshaving head from said resilient detent means.

9. The combination of claim 8 in which said shaving head is bilaterallysymmetrical with respect to a midsectional plane extending in said firstdirection, and is also bilaterally symmetrical with respect to amidsectional plane extending in the direction of said second dimension.

10. The combination of claim 8 wherein said outer cutter and said basehave equal first dimensions, and wherein the ends of said outer cutterare also snugly received between said end walls.

11. The combination of claim 8 wherein said outer cutter has arearwardly facing member, wherein said rearwardly facing member isreceived in said slot, wherein said rearwardly facing member has aplurality of openings, and wherein said base has a plurality of opposingbosses at the bottom of said slot for operatively engaging said openingsto secure said outer cutter to said base.

12. The combination of claim 8 wherein said base has an opening passingthrough the bottom of said slot, said opening being adapted to provideaccess to the face of said rearwardly facing member for pushing saidouter cutter out of said slot.

13. The combination of claim 8 wherein said means for coupling saidinner cutter to said drive arm comprise an elongated generallydownwardly arched spring, the ends of said spring being secured to saidinner cutter at the rear thereof, and wherein said spring includes adownwardly-opening U-shaped bend adapted to operatively engage saiddrive arm, and wherein engagement of said resilient fingers by saidrecesses urges said shaving head downwardly over said drive arm againstthe bias of said spring, thereby biasing said inner cutter against saidouter cutter.

14. The combination of claim 8 wherein said shaving head also includes arow of hair-raising brushes mounted in said base in rows extending alongsaid first direction and at both sides of said outer cutter.

15. The combination of claim 8 wherein said shaving head has a pluralityof rows of cutters having cutting portions arranged substantially in afirst plane and wherein said shaver also includes a lamp assembly andlight diffusion lens, said lens being positioned along a second planewhich forms an acute angle with the skin of the user when said firstplane is in contact with and parallel to said skin of the user.

16. An electric shaver comprising a housing, a popout shaving head and ahead ejector; said housing including a recess at one end thereof forreceiving said shaving head, said recess being defined along twoopposing edges thereof by end walls integral with said housing; saidshaving head comprising an integral molded base element having a firstdimension along the line extending between and normal to said end walls,said first dimension being such that said head is snugly receivedbetween said opposing end walls, said base having a second dimensionalong a line transverse to said first dimension and across the facethereof; headsecuring means comprising flexible resilient opposingdetent means mounted in said recess for grasping portions of said headtherebetween with opposing forces being exerted in the directionparallel with said second dimension; said head ejector comprising meansincluding a user-operated traveller movably mounted in said housingimmediately adjacent said recess and adapted to enter into said recessand to engage a rearward portion of said shaving head adjacent an edgerunning along said first dimension for pivoting said shaving head aroundaxes which are parallel to the direction of said first dimension andurging said shaving head out of engagement with said resilient detentmeans.

17. An electric shaver as defined in claim 16 wherein said head-securingmeans include means for biasing said shaving head inwardly into saidrecess, and wherein said recess is also defined by two additionalopposing edges extending between said end walls, said additionalopposing edges having a curved seating configuration for receivingmating seating surfaces on said shaving head.

18. A shaving head for use in an electric shaver having a recess forreceiving said head, said electric shaver including a drive arm andmeans for oscillating said drive arm along a line extending in a firstdirection between and normal to a pair of opposing end walls, saidshaving he'ad comprising:

an integral molded base having a walled slot in the outer face thereof,said slot extending in said first direction;

an elongated outer cutter, and an inner cutter adapted to becooperatively received within and biased outwardly against said outercutter;

means in said base securing said outer cutter in said slot;

said shaving head also including a hair-raising brush positioned alongthe edge of said outer cutter, said brush comprising a plurality ofclosely associated tufts bonded in said base, and a facing elementmounted in said base and including a portion thereof spaced-apart fromsaid base, said facing element including a portion thereof having theconfiguration of fingers extending between said tufts and toward theedge of said base, said fingers terminating at the free ends thereofimmediately adjacent said base.

1. A removable shaving head for use in an electric shaver having arecess for receiving said head, said recess being defined by a pair offixed opposing end walls, and further having a drive arm, and means foroscillating said drive arm along a line extending between and normal tosaid pair of opposing end walls, said shaving head comprising: a basehaving a first dimension and a second dimension, and an inner face andan outer face, said base being dimensioned to extend acrosssubstantially said entire recess, and having a first dimension such thatsaid shaving head is snugly received between said end walls, and saidouter face having a walled slot parallel with the direction of saidfirst dimension; an elongated outer cutter; an elongated inner cutteradapted to be cooperatively received within said outer cutter; means forbiasing said inner cutter into shearing engagement with said outercutter; means in said base for snugly and releasably securing said outercutter in said walled slot; coupling means for coupling said innercutter to said drive arm whereby said inner cutter is reciprocativelydriven along the direction of said first dimension; head retaining meanscomprising a pair of opposed resilient fingers mounted in said recess soas to exert opposing forces in a direction parallel to the direction ofsaid second dimension, and a pair of recesses in said base memberadapted to receive said resilient fingers in locking engagement.
 2. Ashaving head as defined in claim 1 wherein said outer cutter and saidbase have equal first dimensions, aNd wherein the ends of said outercutter are also snugly received between said end walls.
 3. A shavinghead as defined in claim 1 wherein said outer cutter has a rearwardlyfacing member received in said walled slot, said rearwardly facingmember having a plurality of openings, and wherein said base has meanscomprising a plurality of opposing bosses at the bottom of said slot foroperatively engaging said openings to secure said outer cutter to saidbase.
 4. A shaving head as defined in claim 3 in which said base has anopening passing through the bottom of said slot, said opening beingadapted to provide access to the face of said rearwardly facing memberfor pushing said outer cutter out of said slot.
 5. A shaving head asdefined in claim 1 wherein said coupling means comprise an elongatedgenerally downwardly arched spring, the ends of said spring beingsecured to said inner cutter at the rear thereof, and wherein saidspring includes a downwardly-opening ''''U''''-shaped bend adapted tooperatively engage said drive arm, and wherein engagement of saidresilient fingers by said recesses urges said shaving head downwardlyover said drive arm against the bias of said spring, thereby biasingsaid inner cutter against said outer cutter.
 6. A shaving head asdefined in claim 1 wherein said shaving head further includes a row ofhair-raising brushes mounted in said base in rows extending along saidfirst dimension, and at both sides of said outer cutter.
 7. A shavinghead as defined in claim 1 wherein said shaving head is bilaterallysymmetrical with with respect to a mid-sectional plane extending in thedirection of said first dimension, and is also bilaterally symmetricalwith respect to a mid-sectional plane extending in the direction of saidsecond dimension.
 8. In combination in an electric shaver: a housingincluding a recess at one end thereof for receiving a shaving headtherein, said recess being defined, in part, along two opposing edgesthereof by fixed end walls integral with said housing; means including adrive arm extending upwardly into said recess; means for oscillatingsaid drive arm in a first direction along a line between, and normal to,said pair of fixed end walls; a shaving head comprising an outer cutter,and an inner cutter adapted to be cooperatively received within saidouter cutter, and including means for coupling said inner cutter withsaid drive arm; said shaving head also including an integral molded basehaving a first dimension and a second dimension, said first dimensionbeing in said first direction, said second dimension being transversethereto, said first dimension being such that said base is snuglyreceived between said end walls, said base having a walled slot in theouter face thereof, said slot running in said first direction, and meansin said base for releasably securing said outer cutter in said slot,said base also having a pair of recessed detent means in the undersidethereof; means comprising a pair of opposed resilient fingers mounted insaid recess and adapted to be releasably received by said recesseddetent means, and to exert opposing forces along a direction parallel tothe direction of said second dimension to grip at least a portion ofsaid head therebetween; and head ejector means comprising auser-operated traveller movably mounted in said housing and adapted toenter said recess and push against the underside of said shaving head atan edge thereof extending in said first direction and to pivot saidshaving head outwardly around axes parallel to the said first directionand thereby pivotally release said shaving head from said resilientdetent means.
 9. The combination of claim 8 in which said shaving headis bilaterally symmetrical with respect to a mid-sectional planeextending in said first direction, and is also bilaterally symmetricalwith respect to a mid-sectional plane extending in the direction of saidsecond dimension.
 10. The combination of claIm 8 wherein said outercutter and said base have equal first dimensions, and wherein the endsof said outer cutter are also snugly received between said end walls.11. The combination of claim 8 wherein said outer cutter has arearwardly facing member, wherein said rearwardly facing member isreceived in said slot, wherein said rearwardly facing member has aplurality of openings, and wherein said base has a plurality of opposingbosses at the bottom of said slot for operatively engaging said openingsto secure said outer cutter to said base.
 12. The combination of claim 8wherein said base has an opening passing through the bottom of saidslot, said opening being adapted to provide access to the face of saidrearwardly facing member for pushing said outer cutter out of said slot.13. The combination of claim 8 wherein said means for coupling saidinner cutter to said drive arm comprise an elongated generallydownwardly arched spring, the ends of said spring being secured to saidinner cutter at the rear thereof, and wherein said spring includes adownwardly-opening ''''U''''-shaped bend adapted to operatively engagesaid drive arm, and wherein engagement of said resilient fingers by saidrecesses urges said shaving head downwardly over said drive arm againstthe bias of said spring, thereby biasing said inner cutter against saidouter cutter.
 14. The combination of claim 8 wherein said shaving headalso includes a row of hair-raising brushes mounted in said base in rowsextending along said first direction and at both sides of said outercutter.
 15. The combination of claim 8 wherein said shaving head has aplurality of rows of cutters having cutting portions arrangedsubstantially in a first plane and wherein said shaver also includes alamp assembly and light diffusion lens, said lens being positioned alonga second plane which forms an acute angle with the skin of the user whensaid first plane is in contact with and parallel to said skin of theuser.
 16. An electric shaver comprising a housing, a pop-out shavinghead and a head ejector; said housing including a recess at one endthereof for receiving said shaving head, said recess being defined alongtwo opposing edges thereof by end walls integral with said housing; saidshaving head comprising an integral molded base element having a firstdimension along the line extending between and normal to said end walls,said first dimension being such that said head is snugly receivedbetween said opposing end walls, said base having a second dimensionalong a line transverse to said first dimension and across the facethereof; head-securing means comprising flexible resilient opposingdetent means mounted in said recess for grasping portions of said headtherebetween with opposing forces being exerted in the directionparallel with said second dimension; said head ejector comprising meansincluding a user-operated traveller movably mounted in said housingimmediately adjacent said recess and adapted to enter into said recessand to engage a rearward portion of said shaving head adjacent an edgerunning along said first dimension for pivoting said shaving head aroundaxes which are parallel to the direction of said first dimension andurging said shaving head out of engagement with said resilient detentmeans.
 17. An electric shaver as defined in claim 16 wherein saidhead-securing means include means for biasing said shaving head inwardlyinto said recess, and wherein said recess is also defined by twoadditional opposing edges extending between said end walls, saidadditional opposing edges having a curved seating configuration forreceiving mating seating surfaces on said shaving head.
 18. A shavinghead for use in an electric shaver having a recess for receiving saidhead, said electric shaver including a drive arm and means foroscillating said drive arm along a line extending in a first directionbetween and normal to a pair of opposing end walls, said shaving headcomprising: an integral Molded base having a walled slot in the outerface thereof, said slot extending in said first direction; an elongatedouter cutter, and an inner cutter adapted to be cooperatively receivedwithin and biased outwardly against said outer cutter; means in saidbase securing said outer cutter in said slot; said shaving head alsoincluding a hair-raising brush positioned along the edge of said outercutter, said brush comprising a plurality of closely associated tuftsbonded in said base, and a facing element mounted in said base andincluding a portion thereof spaced-apart from said base, said facingelement including a portion thereof having the configuration of fingersextending between said tufts and toward the edge of said base, saidfingers terminating at the free ends thereof immediately adjacent saidbase.